Gulf cargo tonnage from MESA jumps 10% YoY

Air cargo shipments from the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) rose by 10 per cent in January 2026 compared with the same week last year, according to WorldACD data. Shipments to the US increased 11 per cent, while traffic to Europe went up 7 per cent year-on-year. India, the region’s largest origin market, showed particularly strong growth. Cargo volumes from India to the USA jumped 15 per cent YoY in week 4, continuing the strong momentum seen in the last two months of 2025. The growth from the Middle East comes amid a stable global air cargo environment, with rising demand from key markets and resilient performance despite challenges in other regions. Forwarders say the combination of increasing shipments and limited available capacity is likely to keep spot rates from the Gulf on an upward trend to the USA and Europe. The steady rise in Middle East cargo highlights the region’s importance as a global logistics hub. With links to major global markets, exporters from the Middle East are starting 2026 on a positive note, reinforcing the region’s role in global trade.